Fountain brush



United States Patent O FOUNTAIN BRUSH Kenneth E. Fletcher, Peoria, Ill.

Application June 15, 1954, Serial No. 436,863

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-139) This invention relates to a brush having a self-contained water supply.

One important object-of the invention is to provide a brush of this character having novel means for controlling the ow of water supply.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a brush of this description wherein the water supply to bristles carried by the brush may be controlled at the will of the operator.

A third important object of the invention is to provide control valve means of novel character for a brush of this description.

A fourth important object of the invention is to prou vide novel means for ensuring the flow of water from the interior of the brush body to the bristles carried thereby.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particuvtarly claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts, and:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a brush constructed in accordance with this invention and taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a partial section similar to Fig. 2, but showing the valve means in uid supply position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an exploded section to a large scale and showing a filling plug and valve operating device disengaged from the valve.

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and showing the valve member closing off the water supply from the bristles.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the valve position to allow the llow of water from the body of the brush to the bristles.

This invention includes a body having an upper member 10 and a lower member 11, the upper member 10 being engaged iixedly on the lower member 11. As this is constructed, the upper member 10 includes a top 12, and the lower member 11 includes a bottom 13. The peripheral portions of the top and bottom are united by wall means 14, thnsproviding a fluid receiving chamber l5. The upper surface of the bottom 13 is provided with a shallow recess 16, wherein is seated a disk valve 17.

This valve disk is provided with a central opening 18 from which radiate arouately spaced series of openings 19. A series of tufts of brush bristles 20 are seated in the bottom 13, the seating of these bristles corresponding in circular lines to the spacing of the openings 19. Extending upwardly and outwardly from each bristle tuft seat is an inclined passage 21, which terminates under the valve. Under these circumstances, whenever the valve 17 is shifted rotatively, the valve openings 19 are brought into and out of, as may be desired, registration with the .2,793,382 Patented May 28, 1957 ICC openings 21. When in registration, fluid will iiow from the chamber 15 to the bristles. The bristle tufts are anchored in the lower member 11 above the frusto-conical openings or outlet portion of passages 21 (Figs. 6 and 7), and said bristle tufts extend across passages 21. In brushing the hair 20a (Fig. 7) a portion of each bristle tuft will be separated, clearing its associated opening in passage 21, allowing the liquid within the reservoir to flow to the hair. When the brushing action stops, the How through passages 21 and openings 19 will stop.

In the center of the top 12 is a threaded opening 22 and litted in this threaded opening is a plug 23 having an axial passage 24, wherein is mounted a stem 25. The lower end of this stem 25 fits in the central opening 18 of the valve and projecting from this lower end is an arm 26 having a downwardly bent end 27 iitting in an opening 28 formed in the valve 17. This stem carries under the top 12 a collar 28a and projects through the plug 23. Above the plug 23 is screwed onto the stem 25 a nut 29, and above the nut 29 there is screwed onto the stem a wing nut 30. The nut 29 serves to prevent upward and downward movement of the stem. ln assembling these parts, the stem 25 with its spur 27 are put in place, then plug 23 is put on stem 25 and by the operator engaging the ordinary sockets 23a, it is screwed into place on the upper member 10, after which the nuts 29 and 30 are placed on the stem 25.

In the operation of the device when it is desired to rotate the valve, the nut 29 is slightly loosened, the nut 30 having been previously screwed up on the stern. When the nut 29 is thus loosened, the nut 30 is screwed down and this locks the two nuts on the stem in such manner that further turning of the nut 30 will rotate the valve. By this means the valve is moved between open and closed positions.

What is claimed is:

In a fountain brush, in combination, a body having a self-supported liquid supply reservoir indluding a head having a bottom, said bottom being provided with sequentially radially disposed inclined passages therethrough, bristle tufts, each provided with a bound inner end and an outer end, said bound inner end serving normally to close its associated passage, the bound portion of each tuft extending across and serving as a closure for each inclined passage, the bound inner end of each tuft being secured in a recess in said bottom in intersecting relation with its associated passage, an inverted frusto-conical opening in said bottom surrounding the intermediate unbound portion of each tuft, whereby when said brush is applied to a surface to be operated upon the coordinate pressure of said brush and said surface serves to separate the bristles of each tuft within the limits of said frustoconical openings to open each of said linclined passages to permit the flow of liquid from said reservoir through each of said inclined passages through said bristles to said surface to be operated upon, and release of said pressure serves to close said passages.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,056,538 Hawes Mar. 18, 1913 1,169,977 Luohtenberg Feb. l, 1916 1,175,705 Ciai Mar. 14, 1916 1,476,610 Herbert et al. Dec. 4, 1923 1,693,330 Astley Nov. 27, 1928 2,409,952 Notman Oct. 22, 1946 2,641,012 Storrs .Tune 9, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,875 Great Britain Apr. 3, 1895 24,969 Great Britain Dec. 16, 1899 480,490 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1938 

